Bruno Giacosa Barolo Le Rocche del Falletto 2013

Bruno Giacosa is at the apex of Italian wine and arguably the greatest Barolo winemaker. The Estate focuses on single-vineyard ‘Grand Cru’ wines from Barolo and Barbaresco, which are some of the finest reds in the world. These wines are only produced in very small quantities in the most perfect vintages. As such, we are delighted to be able to offer a parcel of their flagship wine, the newly released Barolo Vigna Le Rocche del Falletto 2013. This is one of their greatest wines to date under this label, in a year so good that they didn’t produce the Falletto ‘normale’, only the premium Le Rocche del Falletto.

Depending on the vintage, the wines are either given a white label or a red label, the latter titled “Riserva”. In theory, the red labels are produced in the better years, although in recent history the white label wines from Rocche del Falletto hold their own at a much lower price. This 2013 is a perfect example, a white label that has been awarded the same points as the 2004 and 2008 Riserva by James Suckling, the latter of which trades at £4,500 per case of six bottles!. This is no surprise as the 2013 vintage was exceptional across Piedmont: Galloni has described it as “an epic vintage of classic proportions and superb pedigree.”

The 2013 white label offers an incredible opportunity to lay down one of the greatest Italian wines in the world at a fraction of the price of the red label Riserva. Moreover, the white labels see a considerable appreciation over the longer-term, holding their value before trading at very high premiums. Furthermore, the 2013 is expected to receive extremely high critical acclaim from both Antonio Galloni and Monica Larner of the Wine Advocate, placing this release up with the 1998 and 1999 white labels, which both trade at £1,500 per six bottle case.

*Le Rocche del Falletto Riserva

In 2011, legendary oenologist Dante Scaglione returned to the Estate, the man behind so many of the great vintages in Giacosa’s past. This will usher in a new golden age for the Vigna le Rocche del Falletto vineyard; indeed, the results are already palpable with this 2013. As the first white label to be made since 2009, the 2013 remains undervalued by the market despite the closing gap between the red and white labels after some time in bottle.

This wine is a tremendous example of Giacosa’s much lauded, terroir-driven style; the Falletto vineyard has been at the heart of their holdings for decades. Located in the commune of Serralunga d’Alba, it was originally purchased by Bruno Giacosa in 1980, however its grapes had been included in his top Barolos as far back as 1964. The Rocche del Falletto is a tiny subsection of the vineyard which was first used exclusively in 1997. It is widely regarded as being among the greatest sites in Europe. With its iconic amphitheatre-like shape and low-yielding microclimate, it produces wines of wonderful concentration, depth and perfume.

Giacosa only put their name to wines which meet their astronomically high standards and only ever in tiny quantities; the opportunity to sample such excellence at this price is not to be missed.

Bruno Giacosa Barolo Le Rocche del Falletto 2013, 6×75 – £625 IB, 97 Points, James Suckling 

This is incredibly powerful and structured with so much tannin backbone and ripe fruit. Aromas of plums and hazelnuts. Full-bodied and chewy. Fabulous finish. Needs three to four years to come together. Great wine. No Falleto was made in 2013. Only Le Rocche. Available in January 2017.

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